The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1887-11-26
AMERICAN GIRLS ABROAD.
A Somewhat Cynical Apology for the
English Maiden's Total Eclipse.
Ldbouchere IN London Truth

Ldbouchere IN London Truth.
The Lady Mauds and the Lady Beatrices
are sore at finding themselves outshone in
the highest circles by American chits, who,
before coming abroad. were just ordinary
misses in small provincial towns in the Uni
ted States. 1t is hard case to be thrust into
the shade by these fair invaders. But sore
ness about it will only spoil good looks.
Why not rather learn the art of war from
the invading bellies, who were not reared in
lighthouses, but in public free schools? In a
great degree they have conquered because
they are in the habit of thinking themselves
as good as no matter whom, and of not be-
ing shamefaced in the presence of mortals
of uppermost rank.
| don't think it occurs to the Mauds and
Beatrices that very few uppermost person
ages, in no matter what country, have, or
can have, much conversation. Having had
allowances from their cradles upward there
is no strenuous effort in their lives. And so
that intensity of thought, feeling and will
which makes man man, and sublimates
a woman, is wanting in them. Etiquette
throws on them the onus of startling sub
iectS of conversation. Having to talk de
haul en- bdS but there is no quick inter-
change of ideas. AS it was 300 years ago so
it is now. Their lives being fat they must
fall back on buffoonery-a reason why
Schneider's dressing room at Les Varieties
WIS lie Passage DIES Princess License of
speech is sure to be granted to any ore
whose talk tickles or is droll. There are
few rosebuds in etiquette-ridden courts who
can so converse. But the United States free
schools produce them in thousands. Orig
inality in America is not confined to the
monumental sex. The conditions of life
are so different there from what they are in
Is r.l,
from cant in most of the forms in which it
tyrannizes us that the beauty from Ohio,
Illinois or Delaware is startlingly novel, and
whatever piquancy there is in her talk
comes home with double force.
There are such heaps of Miss Jenny
Chamberlains in the United States that
hardly anyone notices their points. Ameri-
cans are astounded at the effect they pro-
duce on English noblemen when they come
out at the Riviera or in London As to the
etiquette invented by Lords Chamberlain
those flowers from over the Atlantic are in
happy ignorance So they start topics in
colloquies with royal personages instead of
waiting for them to be started, and, when
they find they please they go ahead. 'Sir,"
or MADAME or your Royal Highness, /"
used as commas are in the conversation of
ordinary persons Then the young and fair
Americans neglect no advantage which is
derived from attertion to personal appear
ance, They know how to dress, and they
grudge no money that they can give to the
best dentists Being in the habit of dancing
from infancy their gestures are easy and not
angular, and they always talk distinctly,
and if sometimes with slight twang, in an
audible voice.
Our girls often humble or run on in a
chirruping jabber that really is not speech
They. too, often deal in set phrases which
get soon exhausted. think when a British
girl is nice she's the incest Of any; and
many more than there are could be charm
ing if they could only learn how to speak,
and to move about in an easy. graceful
way. The American girl has neat features
delicate skin, and fine nervous system.
But in the rest of the organization nature
has been wanting in generosity. The West
ern woman or girl is a finer human being
than the Eastern. In the Southern States
womanhood is nearest to perfection. Won
en- there are reposeful-not precisely anus
ing, but intelligent, sweet and interesting.